Tag Archives: drug rehab

What if Drug Rehab was Free? (And What if it Cost Fifty Grand?)

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What if drug rehab was free?

I happen to work in a treatment center so I get to see clients come and go and I witness various degrees of success with these people.

It is amazing how different the funding can be for different clients.  Some people come to the same treatment center, over and over again, without spending a dime of their own money–simply from taxpayer dollars.  Others are not eligible for this, don’t have insurance, and end up having to pay cold hard cash if they want to go to treatment….and of course this runs into the thousands for only a few days worth of detox, and even more if they stay for a week or two.

So I’m just sort of wondering…what does the cost of treatment have to do with the outcomes?

My friend Keith over at drug addiction recovery would probably argue that free treatment is not going to be as beneficial as if someone pays good money for it.  This will be especially true if the person actually worked to produce the money that they are using to go to treatment with.  I believe Keith would argue this based on the fact that he is a recovery coach and receives money from clients to help them realize their goals in life.  He also sponsors people in the fellowship for free and notices a difference between when someone is paying him and when someone is not.

Now traditional 12 step meetings are free and many have found their solution in them, so I am not knocking the “free model.”  But if someone is using rehab like a revolving door then they are not likely to get much benefit out of it.

On the other hand, those who pay exhorbitant prices for luxury treatment centers are probably under the assumption that they can buy their sobriety–or their hopeless family members are under that illusion.  Unfortunately this is not the case.  Relapse rates are miserable regardless of what the treatment costs. Free drug rehab is just as uninspiring as the overpriced luxury treatment center.

The key issue here is if the cost changes the motivation of the individual.  I believe that it can if they actually paid their own way through hard work and earned wages.  But if they are riding on someone else’s dollar then there is no added incentive there to make a more sincere attempt at recovery.

Are Luxury Treatment Centers the Answer?

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A good question was posed as to whether or not California treatment centers offer any better odds of recovery based on the fact that they are basically luxury resorts.

One argument says that luxury treatment centers must certianly offer some advantages, simply due to the fact that you are dealing with more money, so that can offer a lot of solutions.  While money might not be able to fix anything and everything, here are some things that it can buy:

1) Longer stays at treatment

2) More one-on-one time with therapists or counselors

3) More specialized and individualized treatment

4) Wider treatment options, can accompany different modalities/philosophies

5) Better, and more comprehensive medical care at treatment centers

The question then, is this: do we really need a luxury treatment center in order to have these things?  Can we not incorporate these ideas into “traditional” treatment centers, without having costs spiral out of control?

What can we learn from luxury treatment centers?

Managing Chronic Pain in Treatment Centers

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There is a recurring problem with treating addiction in drug rehabs: people who have chronic pain. Some of these people are addicted to painkillers, and opiate medications have become their drug of choice. Other people have chronic pain and are addicted to something else (such as alcohol), but they can’t use their prescription medications in a drug rehab facility, so that becomes a problem as well. A third group of people might have been self medicating for years with alcohol or other drugs, and now that they have checked into a treatment center and are getting clean and sober, they are starting to notice a chronic pain in their body that they might never have even known was their.

All 3 of these types of situations present a problem for recovering addicts.

Most treatment centers and drug rehabs take the approach that no client that is admitted to their care can use opiate painkillers while they are in treatment. This is just the approach that the majority of treatment centers have taken.

Most professionals have the attitude that it is important to try to manage chronic pain without addictive opiate medications, especially if the person is checking into a treatment center for any type of addiction (alcoholism, cocaine, whatever the case may be).

So here are some pointers about chronic pain that can help the recovering addict:

1. The pain is far less than people realize - this is because of the nature of opiate painkillers (such as Vicodin, Oxycontin, Morphine, etc.)–they do not really lessen the pain at all at the source….instead, they simply dull the brain into thinking that it doesn’t mind the pain so much–right at the level of the brain. They have found that patients given opiate medications can still accurately describe the level of their pain, even though their brain has been dulled into not caring about it so much. This is very different from how some other pain medications work, such as NSAIDS like Ibuprofen, which actually reduce the pain and inflammation right at the site of the pain itself.

2. Opiate addicts who have become dependent on painkillers are simply playing catch-up, trying to constantly medicate themselves from withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms will eventually start to become indistinguishable from their original source of pain, so this is a long term game that they can never really win anyway. Kicking the opiates and finding an alternative is the best long term solution.

3. Alternative solutions will present themselves as people remain clean and sober, and coming to manage their pain effectively might be a learning process. If someone is taking a large dose of opiates several times a day to manage their pain, and they go to treatment and detox and get clean, it might take a month or two before they really learn how to get their pain down to a manageable level. Realize that this is very possible though! Their are alternatives to opiate medications, including both alternate medications and alternate therapies. Hypnosis, in particular, has proven to be especially helpful for some people in managing very serious chronic pain. But recovering addicts can learn what works for them and go far beyond the ideas here, using things like hot showers, massage, or even meditation to help them in alleviating their pain.

If you are addicted to opiates, understand that those types of drugs merely mask the pain, they do not lessen it, and many of the alternative therapies can actually lessen the amount of pain right at the source.

How to Choose the Right Drug or Alcohol Treatment Center

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How can you best choose the right drug or alcohol treatment center?

This is a common question for anyone that is thinking about going to treatment, and it’s also a big question for the family of a struggling addict or alcoholic. How can someone choose the right treatment center so that they can insure that they will stay clean and sober?

There are a few issues you will want to consider here:

What level of treatment does the addict or alcoholic need? Some people need a medically supervised detox, while others do not. This will depend a bit on what substance or substances are being used. For example, alcohol poses a serious threat when it comes to detox, so that will definitely need to be medically supervised. Opiate drugs such as heroin or Vicodin will generally need a medical detox as well. Keep in mind that not all treatment facilities have a full medical detox. Knowing what level of care you need will obviously be a key point in your research.

Is this any different from previous treatment centers? A surprising number of addicts and alcoholics go to treatment and then relapse shortly after leaving. What’s really shocking is that many of these people continue to go back to the same treatment center, clearly blaming themselves for failing to stay clean and sober. This is a tricky argument here, but I can assure you it is valid: if you keep failing with one treatment center, why not try somewhere else? Likewise, if you go to several different treatment centers for short term residential stays, why not try going to long term treatment instead? This is a concept that is thoroughly endorsed in AA as well: “insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try going back to treatment again. But it does mean that you might want to try a different drug treatment center, or even a completely different approach (for example, short term versus long term treatment).

Will this treatment center save someone that doesn’t want help? The answer to that question is no, which means that no treatment can help this particular person in their journey (yet). Unfortunately, no one can beat an addict or alcoholic into submission, and no treatment center can convince an addict to want to stay clean. Sometimes the best you can do is offer to help someone and then get out of their way.

A corollary to this idea is this:

“When someone is truly ready to get clean and sober, it doesn’t matter what treatment center you take them to.”

In other words, the success rate of the recovering alcoholic or addict is heavily dependent on their personal convictions, not on the strength of their chosen treatment program.

This can easily be confirmed to be true by interviewing a handful of successful recovering addicts and alcoholics. Simply ask them about the treatment center or method by which they got clean, and ask them which was more important: “That they were truly done using drugs and alcohol, and desperately wanted to change,” OR “That they found the perfect treatment center that somehow worked a miracle in them.”

I can guarantee that it’s personal conviction and level of surrender.

What is it Like in Drug Rehab?

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A lot of people are hesitant to go to a drug rehab, because they’re not sure what to expect there. It can feel like a pretty big step to check in to a place, or even to make that first call and set up an appointment to try and get help. Here’s what you need to know.

Relax: There’s no reason to be afraid

The thing about drug rehab facilities is that they are controlled environments, thus making them a relatively safe environment for recovering addicts. Not only do they take extra measures to keep drugs and alcohol off their grounds, they also do everything that they can to maintain a safe environment beyond the scope of substances. This means that most facilities do not tolerate violence or threatening behavior, and most have trained staff that know how to handle those types of situations.

Some people are nervous that they might be looked down upon or belittled by the staff at a treatment center…..this is extremely unlikely, as virtually all facilities employ a mix of recovering and non-recovering staff, so many of them have been in your shoes before. They know exactly what you’re going through and how scary it can be to get clean and sober, so they will only be kind and supportive–never demeaning.

Detox

Most drug rehabs have a detox area that is medically supervised. This is another big part of what makes treatment a safe place to be. Some withdrawal symptoms are potentially dangerous and can lead to seizures or even death, so being in a detox unit is really the best place you can be if you’re quitting drugs and alcohol. In most treatment centers, the only thing you have to do while you’re in detox is sleep, and the staff will do what they can to keep you as comfortable as possible. This will sometimes include certain medications, the majority of which will not be addictive or habit/forming pills. Under rare circumstances, a stronger medication might be needed if someone has become seriously unstable from withdrawal, but most patients will not experience this. Detox usually lasts about 3 to 5 days, depending on the drug or drugs that a person is coming off of.

Residential Treatment

Most drug rehabs have a residential unit that normally houses patients for short term stays. These might range anywhere from a few days to possibly 28 days. This is where the real recovery program takes place.

There are different philosophies at different rehabs, but a large percentage of all rehabs are 12-step based. This means that the foundation of their program is based on the 12 step programs of either Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. There are alternatives out there, but they are relatively scarce compared to 12 step treatment centers. Chances are good that if you are going to detox and short term treatment, it is probably 12 step based.

If you are put off or nervous about attending meetings, I would encourage you to “feel the fear and do it anyway.” Going to meetings gets easier after you go a few times and realize that the people there genuinely just want to help each other. I was terrified of meetings (and of treatment) but I eventually got desperate enough to give it a try anyway. I’m glad I did.

Residential treatment will also consist of therapy groups and maybe some informative lectures. Most rehabs will also connect you with a therapist or counselor that can work with you on a one-on-one basis. In other words, you don’t necessarily have to spill your guts or share your whole story with everyone. It is possible to connect with an individual and get a lot of relief by simple talking to them on a one-on-one basis.

Confidentiality

Some people are afraid to go to treatment because they think everyone will know and they will somehow be ostracized for their condition. This is almost never the case and drug rehabs are bound by law to protect your identity while you are there. It is unfortunate what has happened in the media when a celebrity checks into rehab and it gets plastered all over the news. Obviously, this doesn’t happen with regular people, so don’t let the negative exposure that has happened in the media deter you from getting clean and sober.

It takes guts

It takes guts to go to treatment. There are 2 major fears that you have to overcome: One is the fear of treatment and everything that it entails: is it like jail? Is it like a hospital ward? Will they strap me down? and so on. The other major fear is that of facing life without self-medicating. The fear of being clean and sober, period. The fear of facing life and actually feeling your emotions and not medicating them.

Treatment centers are set up to try to alleviate both of these fears. They do the best they can to welcome you and make you comfortable and teach you how to enjoy a sober life. There really is no reason to be afraid of checking in some where! Just gather up enough courage to give it a try, and you will be amazed at where recovery will take you, if you let it.

Good luck to everyone out there and God bless. Try recovery today…..what have you got to lose?

A Million Little Pieces

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A Million Little Pieces

Title: A Million Little Pieces

Author: James Frey

Overall Rating: A very, very good book. Potentially life changing in the right hands.

What are some things you really liked about the book?

Frey has a unique, gripping style of writing. The story is well paced and emotionally charged. You will not become bored with the story.

Anything that wasn’t so great about it?

Just all the hype, controversy, and media coverage involved with the book and the author.

What this Book is all about:

This book is about a struggling drug addict/alcoholic and his journey in early recovery. At times it is violent and explicit, but even the squeamish folks will overlook this because the story is so engaging. It is not necessarily an accurate portrayal of a treatment center, but that is beside the point. This is a stirring, emotionally gripping roller coaster of a story that will seriously engage you and leave you wanting more. Frey exaggerates, embellishes, and flat out lies in parts of this book. It doesn’t matter. Even if the book is nothing but lies and falsehood, the story is so emotionally engaging and the writing is so well done that you can’t help but be completely taken away by the story.

Who should read this book:

People in recovery, or anyone with an interest in addiction and/or alcoholism. Or, simply anyone who wants to read a gripping story.

Who might want to skip it:

Anyone who can’t get over the fact that much of the story is actually a falsified memoir is going to skip this book. But I am urging you to throw that all aside and just read the thing. The story is so moving and the writing is so raw and perfectly executed that it just doesn’t matter. Read the story and digest it and take it for what it is worth. To me, the story was worth a great deal. I happen to be in recovery, but this book truly made me think; made me reflect on things. And it gave me gratitude. Don’t let the negative hype take that experience away from you. It is worth a read.

Final word:

Forget all the hype and buy it now. You will not regret it.